Cody Gakpo’s recent scoring streak against the USA may have come to an end, but Van Gaal’s vivacious wing-backs carried the scoring load in Saturday’s last-16 match, where the Americans were punished for failing to build on a strong start.
While Haji Wright’s unconventional flick gave the USA some hope, Denzel Dumfries provided identical assists for identical goals for Memphis Depay and Daley Blind in the first half. Blind then turned provider for Dumfries, who volleyed home unopposed to end the game.
When the USA put the Netherlands under pressure in the opening exchanges, Van Gaal did little to support his assertions that they were not a “boring” team.
But in order to advance to the quarterfinals for the third time in a row, Oranje sure did teach their American counterparts a lesson in ruthlessness.
Indeed, the Netherlands have advanced to the semifinals in both 2010 and 2014 before miserably failing to qualify for the Russia World Cup. They have now reached the last eight in four of their last five World Cup competitions, with the exception of a last-16 elimination in 2006.
The Netherlands’ unbeaten streak across all competitions now stands at an incredible 19 games, but when two attacking heavyweights go head-to-head for supremacy, something has to give. The 2010 runners-up haven’t lost a World Cup quarterfinal game since 1994.
Lionel Messi finally scored his first non-group stage World Cup goal against Australia, who did not submit a white flag in defeat. The scenario had been set up for Messi to break his knockout hoodoo in his 1,000th career match.
Garang Kuol, a teenager headed to Newcastle United, came within milliseconds of doing the unthinkable for the Socceroos, but Emiliano Martinez made a crucial save to send Argentina ahead.
But Since the tournament’s inception in 1930, European teams have defeated the South Americans nine times in a row.
Because of this, history does not favour Lionel Scaloni’s team, but a 13-game scoring streak across all competitions does!
1×2 Betting Odds
Given the amount of offensive talent on the Lusail field, the Dutch national team’s propensity for lightning-quick counterattacks, and the fact that both teams have a slight vulnerability, a high-scoring match should be expected by the football gods!
Whoever advances will face either Croatia or Brazil in the semi-finals.
Despite having a better head to head record against Argentina, The Netherlands are not the favourtes in this one. Their odds of winning stand @ 3.77.
Leonel Messi can reach one step closer to his dream, and a potential Argentina vs Brazil clash could be on the cards!
The odds of that happening stand @ 2.33.
And The odds that this one finishing in a stalemate after the 90 mins are played, stand @ 3.34.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals score will be over 2.5, stands @ 2.55.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 1.60.
A low scoring match, is the theme of any big knockout match, and this one is no predicted to be no different!
